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Padres host Mets, Pirates and Cubs August 15-25

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SAN DIEGO – The Padres return home Thursday for the longest homestand of the season, featuring four games against the New York Mets, followed by three against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs. Highlights of the homestand include three weekend giveaways, fireworks presented by Cooper Tires and a salute to the San Diego Police Department presented by GovX.

Home action begins tonight, with a 7:10 p.m. start against the Mets. Tonight marks College Night, featuring special ticket discounts for college students with a valid student ID ($10 in Right Field Upper Reserved College Night section). DJ Happee will be spinning at the Budweiser Patio in Right Field from 6:00 p.m. until the conclusion of the game. For more information on the remaining College Night events in 2013, visit www.padres.com/college.

Tonight’s Ceremonial First Pitch will be thrown by Freestyle Moto X Rider Vicki Golden, who earlier this month made history at the X Games by being invited to compete in the male-only Best Whip category, and earning a bronze medal. Golden also won her third gold medal in Women’s Moto X.

It’s also the inaugural Padres Bloggers Night, with the club hosting seven local bloggers to an exclusive experience including a pregame availability with Manager Bud Black and the opportunity to watch the game from a suite.

Join us on Friday for WineFest, featuring wine from 20 California wineries in an outdoor wine lounge setting at Park at the Park. One glass or two tastings, priced at $5, will be available for purchase with Friar Funds exclusively. Fans will have the opportunity to buy Friar Funds at multiple locations. First pour is at 5:00 p.m. Live entertainment will be provided by DJ Graham Funke.

The first 25,000 fans in attendance on Saturday will receive a pair of SD Flip Flops presented by Scripps Health. Saturday is also Scripps Night at the Ballpark, with more than 10,500 Scripps Health employees and their families expected to attend the game and a pregame tailgate party.

The series finale against the Mets Sunday will feature a Salute to Veterans recognizing San Diego veterans involved with key community programs including REBOOT, The Mission Continues, Operation Rebound, Spirit of ’45, Socks for Heroes and Honor Flight in a special pregame ceremony. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band will perform the National Anthem, while Eric McElvenny will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch representing the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s Operation Rebound. McElvenny, who retired from the U.S. Marine Corps this spring as a captain, lost his right leg below the knee to an IED during his third deployment to Afghanistan in December 2011. McElvenny was walking again by February 2012, and surfing again a month later. He finished his first sprint triathlon in July 2012 and a 70.3 mile triathlon in September of last year. He is now training for the Ironman World Championship in October.

KidsFest at the Park returns Sunday, featuring bounce houses and other inflatables, games, face painters, balloon artists, and more kid-friendly activities. Visit www.padres.com/sunday for more information.

Prior to all Sunday home games, fans with tickets are invited to enjoy Breakfast at the Park. Special breakfast menu items will be offered for purchase at Park at the Park. In addition to seating at the Park at the Park, tables may be set up on the warning track, allowing fans to dine on the Petco Park field. Field seating will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, barring batting practice. Select gates will open to Season Ticket Holders with reservations at 10:00 a.m. Gates will open to the general public at 10:30 a.m.

There will be no Jr. Padres Sunday Signings on Sunday. Instead, it’s Jr. Padres Photo Day. From 11:00 a.m. to noon, Jr. Padres are invited to line up along the outfield warning track at Petco Park (enter through the Beachers at Park at the Park) and take photos with Padres players and coaches. A Jr. Padres membership is required to participate in the event. Membership is free, and kids can sign up online or in-person on the day of the event. Jr. Padres are encouraged to bring cameras.

On Tuesday, the Padres will salute the San Diego Police Department in the fifth First Responders Recognition Night of the season. SDPD Detective James “Chappie” Hunter, who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident in June, will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch. In addition, the Padres Foundation, in partnership with GovX, will present a $10,000 donation to an organization that supports law enforcement officers and their families.

Wednesday’s 3:40 p.m. series finale against the Pirates will feature a special pregame ceremony honoring the San Diego Armed Services YMCA, the Padres Foundation’s featured homestand charity partner. In partnership with CYMER, the Padres Foundation will present the ASYMCA with a $5,000 donation.

The Padres welcome the Chicago Cubs to town on Friday. The first 25,000 fans in attendance will receive a Padres Reusable Grocery Bag presented by Jimbo’s… Naturally!

Local champion sand castle builders IB Posse will once again work their magic at Petco Park on Friday, custom building a sand castle at the Beach in right field that pays tribute to the Padres organization’s history. This is the tenth straight year IB Posse has built a custom sand castle at Petco Park. The team placed in the top two at the U.S. Open Sandcastle competition in Imperial Beach for seven straight years.

Before Friday’s game, the Padres will honor the final two recipients of the 2013 Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Award. The Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Awards recognize and pay tribute to individuals or organizations making a positive impact on San Diego’s Hispanic community. Members of the Padres’ Hispanic Community Leadership Council (HCLC) have selected recipients in the areas of PLAY and SERVE. Ramon Aldana, president of the City Heights Youth Soccer League, has been selected as a recipient of the award in the area of youth fitness. For more than 14 years, the former professional soccer player in the Mexican League has been creating a safe and positive environment for kids and teens and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Aldana also partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the San Diego Tijuana Border Initiative to prevent drinking and driving.

Members of the Padres’ HCLC have selected Los Bomberos de San Diego to receive the award in the area of SERVE, supporting our first responders and military community. Los Bomberos, which means “firefighters” in Spanish, is a volunteer association of Hispanic firefighters and EMS Personnel. Los Bomberos train firefighters in Mexico for emergencies in the border region and raise money for academic scholarships for San Diego Hispanic youth. They are also heavily involved in community events and youth mentoring.

In support of the Padres Foundation’s community vision, four awards are given throughout the year, one each in the areas of children’s health (LIVE), children’s education (LEARN), youth baseball/ softball or youth fitness (PLAY) and supporting our law enforcement and military communities (SERVE). Carmen Delgadillo, founder of the Friends of Scott Foundation, and Richard Nares, founder of the Emilio Nares Foundation, received the award for their dedication to improving the lives of families and youth, specifically in the area of children’s health, while Aldo Sanchez, who just completed fourth grade at Ocean Beach Elementary School, received the award in the area of children’s education.

Also prior to Friday’s game, the Padres will welcome Ian McFarland, Patrick Ivison & Ricochet the SURFice dog to Petco Park to throw the Ceremonial First Pitch. 10-year-old McFarland was in a car accident five years ago that killed both of his parents and left him with brain damage and in a wheelchair. After the accident, McFarland, who used to surf with his father, wouldn’t go in the water. That is, until he met Ricochet three years ago. The five-year-old assistive aid and SURFice dog works with children and active duty military who are recovering from injury and PTSD. She got McFarland back in the water. Ivison is the first person with a disability that Ricochet ever shared a board and surfed with. The 19-year-old San Diegan is a quadriplegic. He just started his sophomore year at the University of Southern California.

Following the game Friday, fans are invited to stay to enjoy a movie soundtracks-themed fireworks show presented by Cooper Tires.

The first 25,000 fans in attendance on Saturday will receive a Padres Ball Cap presented by State Farm.

The homestand wraps up Sunday with U.S. Air Force Appreciation Day presented by USAA. KidsFest at the Park returns Sunday, featuring bounce houses and other inflatables, games, face painters, balloon artists, and more kid-friendly activities. From 11:30 a.m. to noon, two Padres players will sign autographs at the Park at the Park for Jr. Padres Sunday Signings.

Prior to all Sunday home games, fans with tickets are invited to enjoy Breakfast at the Park. Special breakfast menu items will be offered for purchase at Park at the Park. In addition to seating at the Park at the Park, tables may be set up on the warning track, allowing fans to dine on the Petco Park field. Field seating will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, barring batting practice. Select gates will open to Season Ticket Holders with reservations at 10:00 a.m. Gates will open to the general public at 10:30 a.m.

Tickets for all home games can be purchased at the Petco Park box office, online at www.padres.com, by phone at 619.795.5555, at the Padres Store in Tijuana, and new this year, at all Ticketmaster locations. The Padres are proud to offer first responders and military personnel $6 off any ticket priced $14 or higher for all regular season home games. Thanks to our partnership with GovX, discounted tickets are now available for purchase online at www.padres.com/military and www.padres.com/firstresponder, pending verification by GovX.